Demythologyzing the Devil

In many religious communities, there is the concept of evil forces vs. good forces. In the Judaeo-Christian-Islamic tradition there is the notion of God vs. the Devil or Satan.  It is not my purpose here to deny outright the existence of spirit-beings that are devoted to evil and to the destruction of humankind, but rather to put these things into proper perspective for our consideration.

The Christian Church has for centuries believed in the existence of evil spirit beings.  In order to support this belief, they have used certain passages of the Bible to justify holding on to these ideas.

Some Christians believe that the reference to the earth being "without form and void" in Genesis 1:2 refers to a cataclysmic destruction brought on by an evil force against God's creation.  In their thinking, since God does not make anything imperfect, that chaos spoken of in Genesis has to be attributed to a destructive evil spirit hell-bent (no pun intended) on opposing God and God's creation. Interestingly enough, the Babylonian account of Creation, which has similarities with the biblical account of creation, contains the myth that the earth was in a state of disorder because the evil god Marduk invaded it and wreaked havoc.  Christians who hold on to this view do not consider the alternative possibility, i.e. that God's creation process was not finalized, and that this is the reason why Genesis speaks about the earth being without form and void.

Then as the story moves on, we are told about a serpent (snake) in the Garden of Eden who seduces the woman to eat of the fruit which God had prohibited her and her husband to eat of.  It is to be noted that some interpretations of this story are very sexist in nature, in that they suggest that the reason why the snake approached the woman instead of the man was because the woman supposedly was more susceptible and vulnerable to temptations.  Another interpretation of this would be that the man was a "dud," because he was standing right there and was not smart enough to resist eating the fruit when his wife offered it to him.  In either case, the Church has taken the historical stance that this snake was the Devil.  Nowhere in Scripture do we find support for this notion

In the book of Job, we find Satan (from the Hebrew "Ha Satan," the adversary) being part of the Council of God.  He is reported to have reported to God along with the other "sons of God." Here again, the Church has misused Scripture to make it sound like this story is about an evil spirit being, when it is very clear that here Satan is the prosecuting attorney of God's Assembly.

In Isaiah 14:12 there is a reference to Lucifer (from the Hebrew word "Helel" which means angel of light).  For whatever reason the Church has used this passage to explain the origin of evil, i.e. that Lucifer was an angel given much glory by God, and who got carried away with it, and as a result was demoted by God and relegated to the lower regions of the universe.  However, a very close reading of the book of the prophet Isaiah will reveal this passage was an oracle against the king of Babylon, and not against any spirit-being.

We find reference again to Satan in the book of Daniel, where it is mentioned that this spirit-being was successful in delaying the angel of God from coming to Daniel's help.  Since the book of Daniel is part of the literature which was written during the Babylonian and Persian captivity, one can't help but wonder where Daniel, as a literary document, reflected Persian influence regarding the existence of spirit-beings, as appears in Persian literature.

And then of course, in the Gospel accounts, we find reference to the Devil tempting and engaging in conversation with Jesus.  It is possible that the Gospel writings reflected post-Exilic Judaism, which no doubt, was influenced by Babylonian and Persian spirituality.   The references to the Devil in the book of  Revelation are part of the use of cryptic code language to disguise the diatribe against the Roman Empire.

What do we then do with the Devil and the demons as actual entities?  Do we believe in them because we take a literal approach to what the Bible says about them?  Do we classify them as literary myths borrowed from pre-Christian spirituality?  Or do we just ask if it makes any difference?

This writer is not concerned with whatever position people take.  If people, for whatever reason, wish to hold on the traditional belief in the existence of evil spirit-beings, that is their choice to which they are entitled.  If any one opts for any of the other possibilities, that is also their choice to which they are entitled.  No one should impose their belief on others because they believe that their position is the absolute truth.  This writer happens to believe that regardless of what position one takes, the message of the Gospel is very clear, i.e. in Christ all evil will be conquered and vanquished.  The writer of Revelation tells us of the scenario where the voice is heard "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of the Lord and of  His Christ, and He shall reign for ever and ever."

I humbly and respectfully submit this to you for your comments and input.  Your contribution will be very, very valuable.

In the Name of the Creator, and of the Risen Lord, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Rev. Dr. Juan A. Ayala-Carmona